Anonymity Statement
The basic premise of anonymity allows addicts to attend meetings without fear of
legal or social repercussions. This is an important consideration for an addict
thinking about going to his first meeting. Anonymity also supports an
atmosphere of equality in meetings. It helps insure that no individual's
personality or circumstance will be considered more important than the message
of recovery shared in NA.
We ask your help in maintaining our tradition of personal anonymity by not
identifying our members by name or in full face photos as members of Narcotics
Anonymous, or by describing details of their personal circumstances which could
reveal their identities.
In carrying our message of recovery, we welcome articles about our fellowship,
but not in terms of personalities. We are not secret, just anonymous.
Cooperation by the press has been very good, and we hope that continued exposure
given to the Narcotics Anonymous program will play a major role in attracting
the many thousands of addicts who need help. We thank you for your
understanding.
Attach: Twelve Traditions of Narcotics Anonymous
We keep what we have only with vigilance, and just as freedom for the individual
comes from the Twelve Steps, so freedom for the group springs from our
traditions. As long as the ties that bind us together are stronger than those
that would tear us apart, all will be well.
1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends on NA
unity.
2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority--a loving God as
He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted
servants, they do not govern.
3. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using.
4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups
or NA as a whole.
5. Each group has but one primary purpose--to carry the message to the addict
who still suffers.
6. An NA group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the NA name to any
related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems or money, property and
prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
7. Every NA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside
contributions.
8. Narcotics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our
service centers may employ special workers.
9. NA as such, ought never be organized, but we may create service boards or
committees directly responsible to those they serve.
10. Narcotics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues,; hence the NA name
ought never be drawn into public controversy.
11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion;
we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and
films.
12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever
reminding us to place principles before personalities.